US Passport colors
 

All,

I was curious about the colors of US Passports.

I became naturalized about 15 years ago and applied for and recieved a green US passport. I just renewed that original passport and it is blue. My wife, has only had blue passports.

What do the different colors signify?

Thanks,

JAB

There was a commerative passport issued with a green cover around 1993. If you read the last page, there's a blurb about it.

From travel.howstuffworks.com

"The previous U.S. passport (the one before the 1994 update) featured a green cover and included a special one-page tribute to Ben Franklin in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Consular Service. The cover of the new passport has reverted to the traditional blue color but has retained the woven cloth material used in the green cover."

Some time ago, there was a thread discussing special perks for carrying a black, diplomatic passport.

When did US passports change to blue? I came across my mother's passport from the 1960's recently, it is taller than the current style with a green paper cover.

I don't know the date, but I had one of those in the late 60s, which would have been good until, I think, 78 or so.

I thought the green covers signified something else. Thanks for the info. ^

US passports issued before and after 1993 were/are blue (not sure how far before, but at least a few years). My understanding is even some issued in 1993 were blue, as the green ones were a commemorative issued in a fixed number. My first passport was issued in 1993 and was the green Ben Franklin edition.

Apparently this green edition caused some consternation overseas at first, as some/many countries weren't made aware of the change.

Diplomatic (black cover)
Issued to American diplomats accredited overseas or to those who reside in the United States but frequently travel abroad for diplomatic work.

Official (maroon cover)
Available to those who are in the employ of the US government and their dependents, and to Congressmen who are traveling on official business.

Personal (blue cover)
Ordinary travel passports issued to citizens and nationals. Valid for ten years for those aged 16 and over. Valid for five years for those aged 15 and under.

Don't forget the Refugee ones that have a white cover. These are issued to persons who are refugees or stateless, but are permitted to reside in the US.

Personal passports were blue by 1980.

Has anyone seen American passports where your name is is NOT in all CAPS?

What does it signify?

fduvall

As a slight hijack, what's the gamut of passport colors available worldwide?

I'm aware of:

Any others?

When you say congressmen carry Maroon passports, did you mean to capitalize that? :)

"colours" ! not colors...